Instructional film for telephone business office cashiers (tellers) who interact with the public, with a heavy dose of period sexism.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Wilding Picture Productions
Sponsor: American Telephone and Telegraph Co. (AT&T)
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Occupations: Clerical; Occupations: Customer service; Communication: Telephone

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: JayKay49 - - March 1, 2012
Subject: Bell in the 40's = McDonalds in the 80's
This is a training film for tellers at the bill paying place for telephone bills and clearly shows how one conducts themselves behind that desk and why. It is an old timey version of what McDonalds does today. Excellently done, too, and uses an attractive girl to illustrate the virtue of doing this job the right way.

Some thoughts: Ever notice that the Fedora was the "baseball cap" of the early/mid twentieth century? Most people in those days didnt have checking accounts and had to pay bills on the hoof. People only used cash - for everything! I remember the women at the department store used to stamp those bills with a loudly..."like a carpenter," is accurate. Some nice looking men come to that desk...I think in my next life I'd like to be a teller - God willing, with a winning smile good teeth and a big pair.

10 stars if I could.

Reviewer: longfade - - July 2, 2010
Subject: Sexist? Come on.
I’m sorry, but WHERE is the “sexism”? The sexist concept didn’t exist back then, so it’s really just of its time. I think the fact that people get up in arms about something this innocuous is telling of our generation, which is judgmental, hypersensitive, and litigious. The words I hear ascribed to these gals are things like “accurate, quick-minded, friendly, alert” etc., and anyone who’s that uptight about the word ‘girl’ is probably just looking for an excuse to be indignant.

This is clearly a film promoting the benefits and importance of good customer service, but it’s also about respecting and empathizing with people, and being good at what you do, whatever it is. At that time women were the company’s front end and only point of contact with the customer, not men. Without having researched it, I think that’s still largely the case. To that end, this is a targeted and effective film. I see nothing patronizing, belittling, or offensive here. Frankly, I think the gender stereotypes in evidence in today’s advertising are FAR more cynical and undermining than anything I see in this piece. Now we have (among other things) the preponderance of “dumb-guy, smug know-it-all woman” themed ads, which for some reason doesn’t seem to bother anyone.

Seriously, if you really find the sensibilities reflected in these films difficult to understand and/or offensive, I can’t understand why you’re even here.

Reviewer: raifeosbourne - - June 15, 2010
Subject: You can tell
The sexism is astounding... Please someone tell me what young girls think about?????? Still tho many of the customer service reps today could do well to take a lot of the advice given in this film

Reviewer: rr1955 - - August 26, 2009
Subject: You Can Tell by the Teller
Polestra, I can see the sexist significance of using the word "girl" instead of "woman" completely escapes you. But then why wouldn't it, as people in 2009 STILL regularly use the word girl to refer to an adult female. It's very disappointing that in many ways, we women haven't advanced very far at all.

Reviewer: polistra - - December 12, 2008
Subject: overtones
If "period sexism" means "a perfectly realistic understanding of the differences between men and women", then okay, this is "period sexism".

One nice point in this film is the constant use of the word Overtone as in "the overtones of good service."

This is a uniquely Bellish word, since old Alex Bell was an expert in phonetics and acoustics. He contributed hugely to the understanding of overtones (formants) in speech; and his invention of the telephone arose from hearing overtones in a specialized telegraph.

More details on the latter here:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/telephone/peopleevents/mabell.html

Reviewer: Sara_no_h - - December 5, 2008
Subject: hmmm
I didn't really see much sexism. The only thing I can see as it is when he says to stamp in a lady like manner. Everything else seems pretty unisex to me, the same if a man was doing the job.

I do have to say, I don't think I could smile like that my whole work day.

Reviewer: bestpbx - - May 30, 2008
Subject: The TWO tellers
The two tellers at the beginning of this film were the same gal.... the first on was filmed on her first day at work... the second on was filmed when she had been working there about 6 years sayng the same old thing every day and answering the same old questions and listening to complaints from customers and watching every man that gets hired in at the same level as you get promoted after he clears his probation period.

What a farce!

Reviewer: unzar - - December 10, 2006
Subject: Sum things never change
Smile, call your customer by name, be friendly and courteous, be organized, go "above and beyond", don't whine to the human resources department about how oppressive the corporate pigs are while you continue to suck at their tit. The perfect employee, er, associate, fantasy film.

Narrator has that great by-gone era voice which is very George Fenemanish.
The End.

Reviewer: FP - - March 11, 2004
Subject: Evocative of modern animated comedy
This has a great deal in common with the "Raisins" episode of SOUTH PARK.

Reviewer: Marysz - - March 11, 2004
Subject: Putting on a Corporate Smile
ÂIs it any wonder that weÂre careful about the kind of girl we put behind this desk? asks the overbearing male voice-over in this oppressive how-to film for Bell Telephone cashiers made in 1945, as World War II was coming to a close. Already women, who were central to the wartime economy, were being marginalized and relegated to grim jobs such as this. WeÂre told of the Âtwelve steps a cashier goes through when dealing with a customer, beginning with a Âsmile with her voice and eyes. SheÂs encouraged to develop a Âpersonal relationship with the customer as she takes Âhis money. When she stamps the receipt, she should Âuse the stamp like a lady, and not a carpenter, i.e., with a Ânoiseless roll and Ânot a nerve-wracking bang. All the bills in her cash drawer should be displayed portrait side up and she should detach the bill from its stub Âwith a swift, single motion. She should give the customer his change while making eye contact with him and addressing him by name. Why is she supposed to be so friendly? So heÂll Âmove on promptly and she can go on to the next customer. The film reminds the cashiers that theyÂre the Âface of the Telephone company that the public sees, and that face has to be smiling and friendly. Yet at the same time, theyÂre reminded that the company needs to Âsave money. In other words, donÂt expect much in the way of salary. This is a practice that continues to this day when workers who deal directly with the public are expected to Âembody a corporate entity for maximum emotional stress and minimal pay. An ultimately sad film about overworked and exploited female workers.

Shotlist

Portrays a pleasing and efficient payment transaction through the eyes of a customer. Contrasts desirable procedure with an instance of less desirable teller service. Shows the importance of library information service staff contact with patrons.

Instructional film for telephone business office cashiers (tellers) who interact with the public

CU Bell System flag flying
Zoom into glass door of Bell System business office with logo in front of camera
CU woman teller looking into camera and saying ÒGood morningÓ, addressing narrator (offscreen male) GOOD male POV of woman working in service position
VS sequences of teller dealing with customers Ð friendly, accurate, polite
ÒGoofus and GallantÓ sequence
VS seq of poor-mannered teller: indifferent to customer, takes no notice, keeps man waiting, chews gum, takes care of someone else first, doesnÕt look at customer
ÒIs it any wonder we are so careful about the kind of girl we put behind the desk?Ó
Narrator describes virtues of women tellers Ð sexist, good rap
CU operator (over-shoulder view) GOOD
[lots of shots unlogged up thru 12:18]
CU cash tray with bills and coins (till; cash register)
CU desk tools; rubber stamp; filing trays; etc.
Rest of shots unlogged





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